Ultrasonic probe apparatus and control method thereof

Abstract

An ultrasonic probe apparatus includes an ultrasound transceiver adapted to receive ultrasonic echo signals reflected after transmitting unfocused or defocused ultrasonic signals having a first frame rate; a converter adapted to convert ultrasonic echo signals received by the ultrasound transceiver into digital signals; an image processor adapted to generate a plurality of image data by processing the digital signals; a combiner adapted to combine the plurality of image data having a first frame rate into a plurality of composite image data having a second frame rate; and a transmitter adapted to transmit the plurality of composite image data having the second frame rate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An ultrasonic probe apparatus comprising:
 an ultrasound transceiver adapted to transmit unfocused or defocused ultrasonic signals to an object and receive reflected ultrasonic echo signals having a first frame rate;   a converter adapted to convert the ultrasonic echo signals into digital signals;   an image processor adapted to generate a plurality of image data by processing the digital signals;   a combiner adapted to combine the plurality of image data having a first frame rate into a plurality of composite image data having a second frame rate; and   a transmitter adapted to transmit the plurality of composite image data having the second frame rate to an external display apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the image processor comprises a Doppler image processor adapted to generate a plurality of Doppler images by performing Doppler processing on the digital signals. 
     
     
         3 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein
 the Doppler processing comprises at least one of color Doppler processing, B-mode image processing, and spectral Doppler processing.   
     
     
         4 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the image data having different sizes are generated due to receiving the ultrasonic echo signals that are reflected in response to transmitting defocused ultrasonic signals or to changing a steering angle of the ultrasonic probe apparatus, and   the image processor edits the image data having the different sizes into the image data having a predetermined size.   
     
     
         5 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first frame rate is determined depending on a measuring depth to be measured by using the ultrasonic probe apparatus.   
     
     
         6 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the second frame rate is determined depending on a frame rate which the transmitter can transmit.   
     
     
         7 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the transmitter transmits the plurality of composite image data wirelessly to the external display apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 the ultrasound transceiver is detachable from the ultrasonic probe apparatus.   
     
     
         9 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a wireless charger adapted to charge power of the ultrasonic probe apparatus by using one of a magnetic induction method and a magnetic resonance method.   
     
     
         10 . The ultrasonic probe apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a detector adapted to detect a user touch; and   a power source adapted to supply power to the ultrasonic probe apparatus when the user touch is detected.   
     
     
         11 . An ultrasonic imaging method comprising:
 transmitting unfocused or defocused ultrasonic signals to an object;   receiving reflected ultrasonic echo signals having a first frame rate;   converting the received ultrasonic echo signals into digital signals;   generating a plurality of image data by processing the converted digital signals;   combining the plurality of image data having the first frame into a plurality of composite image data having a second frame rate; and   transmitting the plurality of composite image data having the second frame rate to an external display apparatus.   
     
     
         12 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the generating the plurality of image data comprises generating a plurality of Doppler images by performing Doppler processing on the converted digital signals.   
     
     
         13 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 12 , wherein
 the Doppler processing comprises at least one of color Doppler processing, B-mode image processing, and spectral Doppler processing.   
     
     
         14 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the generating the image data comprises generating the image data having different sizes due to receiving the ultrasonic echo signals that are reflected in response to transmitting the defocused ultrasonic signals or changing a steering angle of an ultrasonic probe, and   editing the image data having the different sizes into the image data having a predetermined size.   
     
     
         15 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the first frame rate is determined depending on a measuring depth of an ultrasound.   
     
     
         16 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , wherein
 the second frame rate is determined depending on a frame rate which can be transmitted to the external display apparatus.   
     
     
         17 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , wherein
 transmitting the plurality of composite image data comprises transmitting the plurality of composite image data wirelessly.   
     
     
         18 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 charging power of an ultrasonic probe adapted to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves, by using one of a magnetic induction method and a magnetic resonance method.   
     
     
         19 . The ultrasonic imaging method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 detecting a user touch; and   supplying electric power signal to an ultrasonic probe adapted to transmit and receive ultrasonic waves when the user touch is detected.